I think I've changed my focus a little bit. I really want to look at how the clergy are treated, in a novel that primarily deals with the navy. When I was writing a paper in college on this topic in the 6 novels, I kind of had to gloss over Persuasion because there really isn't much to work with, but I plan to winkle it out!

The first reference comes in Vol 1 Ch 3. Mr. Shepherd is speaking to Sir Walter about Admiral Croft's brother-in-law, and Sir Walter replies,

"Wentworth? Oh! ay,--Mr. Wentworth, the curate of Monkford. You misled me by the term gentleman. I thought you were speaking of some man of property: Mr. Wentworth was nobody, I remember; quite unconnected."

It's a short passage, and this is of course Sir Walter speaking, but I find it so interesting that this is our introduction to the clergy in this novel. JA certainly didn't believe that the clergy were ideal specimens of human beings (even Edward Ferrars had flaws!) but at least in the other novels their good qualities are given alongside the bad.